Featured in several Juvenile Trial Watch stories this Ole Kirk colt has been catching our eye for a while now for his talent, but also his name which is probably in part why he started so short at Scone on Tuesday when making his debut.
Punxsutawney Phil is a name that will make a lot of people that weren’t born this century have backed him today!
For the unenlightened, Groundhog Day was a 1993 comedy movie starring Bill Murray and Andie McDowell and a key part of that movie is Punxsutawney Phil. I won’t bore you with the details, but if you have an hour or two to while away and don’t mind laughing so hard your face hurts… do yourself a favour!
The racehorse Punxsutawney Phil is an unraced three year-old colt by Ole Kirk in the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton stable that ventured to Scone for an 1100m maiden off the back of four barrier trials starting in April, two of which he has won.
Ridden by Jean Van Overmeire, Punxsutawney Phil had a thoroughly enjoyable day out, jumping smoothly to take the lead and then when challenged after turning for home let showed a nice change of gear to kick away and win by three lengths under minimal urging.
Jean Van Overmeire was having his first ride on Punxsutawney Phil, whose previous trials had all been in the hands of Zac Lloyd.
“He raced exactly according to the way his price suggested he would,” said JVO.
“He’s the ultimate professional. Jumped quick, cruised and coming into the straight Yeah Buddy (runner up) was next to me travelling strongly, but once we changed leads and quickened we just dropped him so easily.
“He was solid to the wire, without being fully tested and there is plenty of improvement to come as well, but he's a he's a really nice horse.”
Punxsutawney Phil is a homebred for Neil Werrett and is the first foal of Heroess, a winning Snitzel daughter of dual Group I winner Srikandi. Heroess is married to Ole Kirk and has a colt and filly to follow by the Vinery based sire and is back in foal to him again.
Based at Vinery Stud, Ole Kirk earned a big service fee increase last spring jumping from $55,000 to $99,000 and covered 161 mares so will have a sensational crop of foals this year and his price has risen again to $110,000 this spring.
